Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested dog comes in two variations, either hairless, or with hair, which is known as the powder puff. This unique and striking dog belongs to the toy group.

Chinese Crested breed group

Toy

Size of the Chinese Crested

Small

Country of Origin

China

Time of original development

Around the 19th century

Chinese Crested breed introduction and overview

Hairless Chinese Crested

The hairless Chinese Crested is a striking hairless dog with almost human-like skin. There is normally hair on the head, paws, often referred to as socks, and the tail.

Powder puff

The powder puff is the full-coated variety of the Chinese Crested breed. The coat is thick and double coated and can grow quite long.

Chinese Crested temperament

The breed is alert, lively dog with a friendly temperament. Unlike many small dogs in the toy group, the Chinese Crested does not tend to be snappy, so may be suitable for families with young children. The Chinese Crested can be a little head-strong so training and socialisation should be introduced at an early age to prevent this confident dog from establishing itself as pack leader. They are generally sociable and non-aggressive with other dogs and have been known to live happily alongside cats.

Colour varieties of the Chinese Crested

The breed comes in a variety of colours which include:

Black

Black & White

Blue

Blue & White

Brown

Brown & White

Cream

Cream & White

Cream Sable

Fawn & White

Gold

Gold & White

Liver

Mahogany

Mahogany & Cream

Mahogany & White

Pink & Blue

Red & White

Sable

Sable & White

Tricolour

White

Size and weight of the Chinese Crested

Height bitch 28-33cms

Height dog 28-33cms

Weight (kilos) bitch up to 5.4kgs

Weight (kilos) dog up to 5.4kgs

Exercise requirements of the Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested requires around 30 minutes of exercise daily making it an ideal choice of dog for the older or not so active owner. The hairless Chinese Crested does feel the cold and should be protected from bad weather in cold and wet conditions. It is also prone to sunburn in hot weather and specialist sunblock should be applied to the skin during the summer months.

Is the Chinese Crested a good dog for a first time dog owner?

Yes, but potential owners should be aware of the special care requirements of the hairless variety of the breed and protect it from the cold and hot conditions. The hairless variety also has the advantage of being virtually odourless, lacking the musky smell associated with most other breeds.

Chinese Crested coat length

Hairless variety

Hairless apart from hair on the head, known as a crest, socks and tail.

Powder Puff

Long. The Powder puff has a long double coat.

Grooming requirements of the Chinese Crested

Low. The hairless variety requires little grooming, but the skin may become dry. The Powder Puff requires daily groom requires daily brushing with a very soft slicker or pin brush. Care should be taken as the skin is very careful. Consult a professional groomer for guidance on caring for your Chinese Crested.ticks.

Hypoallergenic?

The hairless Chinese Crested may be suitable for allergy sufferers. The Powder Puff however does shed.

Health Issues in the Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is a hardy dog, but owners should consult their breeder about the following known health issues in the breed:

Eye problems

Luxating patellas

Allergies

As with all pedigree dogs, it is very important to obtain a puppy from a reputable source where you can be guaranteed that it has been bred with a view to avoiding the inherent physical and psychological diseases of the breed.

Average lifespan of the Chinese Crested

A healthy Chinese Crested should expect to enjoy a life expectancy of between 12-14 years, but 18 years is not unusual!

Approximate Chinese Crested pedigree puppy price

Expect to pay around £400-£600 for a puppy, and litters are often available. There are generally 2-4 puppies in an average litter.

Estimating how much a Chinese Crested would need to be fed each day

A dog or bitch weighing between 5kgs will require around 123gms of complete dry food daily.

A dog or bitch weighing 5kgs will cost around £3 per week to feed.

Other financial costs to consider when owning any dog breed

Remember to budget for essential pet treatments and procedures that are not covered by pet insurance policies including: